LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mohammad Sajjad Hossain, a third-year Ph.D. student in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky, has been recognized as a pre-dissertation fellow of the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW).
The AGESW pre-dissertation fellowship program provides students with a range of professional development opportunities, including working with nationally recognized faculty experts in Gerontological Social Work.
Students receive ten hours of training at the 2024 GSA Annual Scientific Meeting, three professional development webinars, and ongoing connection, networking and mentoring opportunities through AGESW.
Hossain credits his upbringing in Bangladesh to his interest in Gerontological Social Work.
“In Bangladesh, we have a joint family system. So, I saw how older people in the family could experience abuse, exploitation and neglect. From an early stage of my life, I wanted to do more to help them,” Hossain said.
Being a part of this fellowship and pursuing his PhD at the CoSW means a lot to Hossain, especially being from a country close to 8,000 miles away from the United States. Through his time at the CoSW, he has gained hands-on experience addressing real world social issues through appropriate courses and modules.
During his time as a fellow, Hossain hopes to benefit from the mentorship and guidance from experienced faculty members and researchers in the field of Gerontological Social Work.
“This support will help refine my research ideas and methodology and prepare me for my doctoral research. I will be able to engage with peers, mentors and professionals in aging and social work through workshops, conferences and seminars,” Hossain said. “Building these networks can lead to collaboration, future research partnerships and connections within the academic and professional community.”
Through this fellowship, Hossain will be able to prepare himself for his doctoral studies and a professional role in academia, research institute, policy making organization, or a clinical practice setting focused on aging and social work issues.
“I’m optimistic that this fellowship will inspire innovative ideas for my research and keep me updated with emerging trends, theoretical perspectives and evidence-based practices,” Hossain said.
